Bez WHIP-POOR-WILL. 
and the samie bird, or are they really two distinct species? there has 
long been an opposition of sentiment, and many fiuitless d.sputes. 
Numbers of sensible and observing people, whose intelligence and 
long residence in the country entitle their opinion to respect, positive- 
ly assert that the Night Hawk and the Whip-poor-will are very differ- 
ent birds, and do not even associate together. The naturalists of 
Europe, however, have generally considered the two names as applica- 
ble to one and the same species; and this opinion has also been 
adopted by two of our most distinguished naturalists, Mr. William 
Bartram, of Kingsessing,* and Professor Barton, of Philadelphiat The 
writer of this, being determined to ascertain the truth by examining’ 
for himself, took the following effectual mode of settling this disputed 
point, the particulars of which he now submits to those interested in 
the question : — 
“Thirteen of those birds usually called Night Hawks, which dart 
about in the air like Swallows, and sometimes descend with rapidity 
from a great height, making a hollow sounding noise like that pro- 
duced by blowing into the bunghole of an empty hogshead, were shot 
at different times and in different places, and accurately examined, 
both outwardly and by dissection. Nine of these were found to be 
males, and four females. The former all corresponded in the mark- 
ings and tints of their plumage ; the latter also agreed in their marks, 
differing slightly from the males, though evidently of the same spe- 
cies. ‘Two others were shot as they rose from the nests, or rather 
from the eggs, which, in both cases, were two in number, lying on the 
open ground. These also agreed in the markings of their plumage 
with the four preceding ; and, on dissection, were found to be females. 
The eggs were also secured. A Whip-poor-will was shot in the eve- 
ning, while in the act of repeating his usual and well-known notes. 
This bird was found to be a male, differing in many remarkable par- 
ticulars from all the former. Three others were shot at different times 
during the day, in solitary and dark-shaded parts of the wood. Two 
of these were found to be females, one of which had been sitting on 
two eggs, The two females resembled each other almost exactly ; 
the male also corresponded in its markings with the one first found ; 
and all four were evidently of one species. The eggs differed from 
the former, both in color and markings. 
“The differences between these two birds were as follows : — The 
sides of the mouth, in both sexes of the Whip-poor-will, were beset 
with ranges of long and very strong bristles, extending more than half 
an inch beyond the point of the bill; both sexes of the Night Hawk 
were entirely destitute of bristles. The bill of the Whip-poor-will 
was also more than twice the length of that of the Night Hawk. The 
long wing-quills, of both sexes of the Night Hawk, were of a deep 
brownish black, with a large spot of white nearly in their middle, and, 
when shut, the tips of the wings extended a little beyond the tail. The 
wing-quills of the Whip-poor-will, of both sexes, were beautifully 
* Caprimulgus Americanus, Night Hawk, or Whip-poor-will. Travels, z. 292. 
+ Caprimuleus Virginianus, Whip-poor-will, or Night Hawk. Fragments of 
the Natural History of Pennsylvania, p-3. See also American Phil. Trane, vol. 
iv. pp. 208, 209, note, 
